Mets win to salvage split with Atlanta, but lose another starting pitcher

The Mets likely have a long-term injury to Griffin Canning - where can they turn to now for help?

Imagn Images

What’s up with the Mets? ⚾

• The Mets split their series with Atlanta by taking the finale 4-0 (box)

• RHP Griffin Canning pitched 2.2 innings before he had to be helped off the field with what the team described as an ankle injury

• The bullpen came up huge after Canning’s exit. The combination of Austin Warren, Dedniel Núñez, Ryne Stanek, and Edwin Díaz did not allow any runs in 6.1 innings of work. They struck out eight and did not walk any batters

• 1B Pete Alonso went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI

• LF Jeff McNeil drove in two insurance runs in the seventh. Overall he went 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs, a walk, and a strikeout

• RF Juan Soto stayed hot and went 1-for-3 with 2 runs and a walk

---

Roster Moves 📰

• RHP Jonathan Pintaro optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

• RHP Austin Warren recalled from Triple-A Syracuse

---

Injury Updates 🏥

• RHP Griffin Canning (ankle injury) will undergo further testing after exiting his start with a likely Achillies injury

• DH Jesse Winker (oblique strain) took batting practice before the game and is scheduled to start a rehab assignment this weekend with Brooklyn

---

---

Play of the Game 🌟

Jeff McNeil has quietly been having a nice season for the Mets playing multiple positions.

He delivered a clutch hit in the seventh when he drove in Juan Soto and Pete Alonso to give the bullpen more breathing room in a game where they had to do some heavy lifting.

The versatile veteran has been a valuable piece of the team and they will need Happy Jeff to continue to hit as the pennant race heats up over the summer.

---

Stats of the Day 📊

• The Mets 29-12 (.707) home record is the best mark in the majors, and is is tied for the best start at home in franchise history with the 2015 and 1988 teams

• Pete Alonso’s 22 RBI in June are tied for the third-most in the majors and his 65 RBI this season are fourth-most in the majors

---

Down on the Farm 🌾

• CF Carson Benge (No. 3 prospect, Double-A): 1-for-2, R, 2 BB, 2 SB

• C Ronald Hernandez (No. 25 prospect, High-A): 2-for-5, 2 RBI, K

BOX SCORES

Low-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR PPD

---

Today’s Game 🗓️

Match-up: Mets (48-34) vs. Pirates (32-50)

Where: PNC Park - Pittsburgh, PA

Starters: LHP David Peterson (5-3, 2.98 ERA) vs. RHP Mitch Keller (1-10, 4.02 ERA)

When: 6:40 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

---

The Mets are in need of rotation help after the latest injury… ✍️

Getty Images

It was a heartbreaking scene at Citi Field when Griffin Canning suffered what is looking like an Achilles injury to his foot/ankle and needed help leaving the field in his start against the Braves on Thursday night.

He was enjoying a resurgence with the team, coming over from the Angels where he struggled mightily last season. Originally brought in by David Stearns as pitching depth, he earned a spot in the rotation when both Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea went on the IL to start the year, but he wasn’t just filling in until they returned; he seized a spot and was pitching quite well until his unfortunate injury. He is 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA, and while his last few starts have been shaky, he had otherwise been a valuable member of the rotation.

Assuming this injury is what the Mets think it is, Canning’s season is likely over, adding to an already large pile of injuries to the Mets rotation.

Montas has finally returned, but Manaea had a minor setback with his elbow and will take a little longer to rejoin the team. Kodai Senga has a good prognosis but still is not due to return until the All-Star break at the earliest. So right now, the Mets rotation is Montas, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, and Paul Blackburn.

So, while they wait for Manaea and Senga to get back, where can the Mets go for rotation help for the time being?

Blade Tidwell filled in admirably against the Phillies, but the Mets will need a long-term solution with the injuries starting to pile up. Brandon Sproat is still struggling in Triple-A, and his ERA currently sits at 5.95.

Nolan McLean, however, is an intriguing option. In eight games with Syracuse after getting promoted from Double-A, he is 2-3 with a 2.68 ERA. So, either McLean or Tidwell appear anyway to be the most immediate alternatives for the fifth starter spot.

Now, it is probably a long shot, but the team could be aggressive with Jonah Tong, who has been dominantly lights out with Binghamton this season. He has a 1.88 ERA in 67 innings with the Rumble Ponies with 107 strikeouts over 67 innings. However, that’s Double-A, and the Mets have been pretty steady in their player development process with very little deviation, meaning they will more than likely move Tong to Triple-A before he gets to the major leagues. It stands to reason considering they have a decent enough sample size in McLean at Triple-A and, of course, with Tidwell to at least give them the shots first without messing with Tong’s path to the big leagues and risking an impact to his player development curve.

As such, having their top pitching prospects serve as a stopgap until the others return might not be the best way to go about their development.

Even if the Mets go the prospect route and they find success here, the pitching depth is near zero at the moment. So either way, David Stearns needs to make a move for the rotation, if not two or three. But it would be unrealistic to expect them to be able to pull off more than one top-of-the-depth-chart move considering how many teams will be out there looking for starting pitching ahead of the trade deadline, and the rising costs as a result to get it.

The problem is, there are, of course, 12 teams in playoff position right now - including the Mets - and another 12 teams within seven games of a wild card spot. That leaves just six teams that are really out of it right now.

Sandy Alcántara has not looked like the Cy Young pitcher he once was, but his potential is certainly tempting. Could the Mets bring him in and straighten him out? Given his performance and recent recovery from Tommy John, plus the state of affairs in the Mets rotation right now, do they need a surer bet? That could depend on how the market shapes up over the next 2-3 weeks.

And of course, the rumors have started to swirl around Jacob deGrom, given how well he’s pitched and that the Rangers are meandering at the moment (although they are just 1.5 games out of a wild card right now). A reunion with the Cy Young winner would no doubt greatly improve the rotation, especially since he is pitching like a Cy Young contender right now. Unfortunately, he does have a no-trade clause, and he has given no indication that he would be open to a reunion with his former team. So, that ship has likely sailed, so Stearns will need to look elsewhere.

It will be interesting to see what the Diamondbacks do. They’ve lost Corbin Burnes to Tommy John surgery, and while they’re in the race right now, they’re a middling team at around .500, could look to unload if they’re unable to push forward. They have Zac Gallen, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, and like Alcántara, the Mets could conceivably take a chance on Gallen at a lesser cost since he’s a rental and try and fix him for the playoff race. He has had a generally miserable season for sure, with a 5.75 ERA, and there are indeed concerning signs with his peripherals, but it’s worth at least thinking about given the club’s track record for reclamation projects.

Of course, there are the names we aren’t thinking about and potential hidden gems Stearns and the front office have identified or are trying to identify. They’re in choppy waters right now, though; there’s no question about it.

---

Around the League 🚩

• Wander Franco was found guilty of of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic and received a suspended two-year prison sentence

• Both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were the first two selected for the All-Star Game after receiving the most votes in the first round of voting. The next round of All-Star voting starts Monday to determine this year’s All-Star starters

• The Cubs and Cardinals had a benches clearing incident at the end of the game when former Cub Wilson Contreras took exception to getting hit by a pitch

• The Giants announced that Barry Bonds will be honored with a statue outside Oracle Park according to Giants president Larry Baer